Hillbilly Elegy

Arnold Schwarzenegger as the
embodiment of the American Dream: a
strong, capable immigrant coming out on
top. But I saw the movie as a sort of
metaphor for my own life. Mamaw was
my keeper, my protector, and, if need be,
my own goddamned terminator. No
matter what life threw at me, I’d be okay
because she was there to protect me.
Paying for her health insurance made
me feel, for the first time in my life, like
I was the protector. It gave me a sense of
satisfaction that I’d never imagined—
and how could I? I’d never had the
money to help people before the
Marines. When I came home, I was able
to take Mom out to lunch, get ice cream